On Friday, October 23rd, 2015, “Generations of Heart”, a fifteen minute work scored for wind ensemble and concert choir was performed. “Generations of Heart” is a commissioned piece written for the 125th anniversary of the founding of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Originally coordinated by Dr. Ryan Fox, HSU Director of Choral Activities, and Dr. Carrie Pewelski, HSU Director of Bands, the rehearsals and the performance itself were organized and led by Dr. Andrew Kreckmann, newly appointed HSU Director of Choral Activities and Dr. Shaun Popp, interim HSU Director of Bands. Approximately sixty singers (SATB) and members of the auditioned band of the HSU Music Department performed under Dr. Popp’s baton. The Homecoming weekend performance was given in Arkansas Hall on the campus following a Distinguished Alumni banquet whose attendees along with supportive HSU students and faculty listened to the piece. This was followed by a presentation by the HSU drama students featuring a play that was the first play performed on record at the University.
“Generations of Heart” was written specifically with the history of Henderson State University in mind and also reflects the traditional “Reddie” spirit of the school. It is known as the “school with heart”, so the composer wrote a text reflecting those attributes of spirit and heart. While the particular character and personality of this particular school is musically portrayed in “Generations of Heart,” this work could be performed by other universities and colleges with a minimum of rewrites. This is true because the piece essentially evokes a typical story of Americana which includes the struggles and growing pains of our nation, our abiding love of learning, and the evolution of our academic institutions (which were often begun by members of the clergy).
The scores below is in its original form as delivered to the conductors in August of 2015. Several edits were made by Dr. Popp and the composer to better suit the members of that fall’s crop of instrumentalists. These changes included a re-working of the tuba part which rests quite high in several spots. We re-wrote a few measures for tuba, substituted a string bass at times which was used to reinforce the voices, and had bass trombone play some of the higher tuba parts. The tenor sax played the bass clarinet part from mm. 1 through 54. We did not use the optional trumpet part written at the beginning of the score. Dr. Popp added a “lift” at beat four of m. 424 to add excitement to the powerful ending.
Contact the composer at kayne@songsforall.com if your groups would be interested in performing this piece. The composer would be welcome to re-work the piece as need be. All parts are available upon request in .pdf format. Feel free to click on the following: .pdf of the Full Score; mp3 recording of the premiere performance; .mp3 of a digitized version; .pdf of the Piano/Vocal Score; .pdf of the Preface of the score which gives valuable information regarding the nature of the piece and its instrumentation (N.B.: marimba is included as well as “spoons” or “washboard”); .and a .pdf of the text.
Approximately 15:00; Db
Other key words and concepts: peace, war, folk music; Native American; civil liberty, freedom; camaraderie; honor; courage